Solve 3D puzzles in VR to save your ship
I love task-related games. Replicating “work” and chores in VR is strangely soothing to me, as some sort of bizarre way to simulate to-do-lists that oddly keep me moving. Just ask anyone on SideQuesting’s staff: I love pulling the stupid weeds and watering all of my plants in Animal Crossing because it’s part of a daily routine.
Arcsmith is sort of in line with that. The new game from Bithell Games gives us a “job” to do: save the galaxy by building stuff. Taking place in VR, the game is billed as a 3D puzzle experience, where things like volumetric sizes, heat, and electricity are all a part of a build process. We’re an assistant to master arcsmith Korith Dinn on a ship, and when the galaxy faces peril it’s up to us to save our butts using our technical knowhow. To do so we need to assemble items, from a simple radio in the beginning to fully complex devices later. We have a certain set of tools at our disposal, alongside parts and pieces, and need to rotate and attach things together while making sure that the levels of all of the different variables aren’t too far off to cause a quick, explosive end to our careers.
It looks like a cross between 3D Tetris and playing with a Rubik’s Cube, but in space, and in virtual reality.
Bithell’s projects always seem to balance unique gameplay hooks alongside storytelling, and tie that all together seemingly effortlessly.
Arcsmith will launch July 29th for Oculus.
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